Prisoners' state benefits to be further curtailed

THE HAGUE – Dutch prisoners may soon have to do without their Dutch state pension as well, if junior minister Nebahat Albayrak (Justice) and Ahmed Aboutaleb (Social Affairs) have their way. Earlier, the cabinet suspended other benefits such as disability pensions. The authorities justify the change in policy on the basis that they already provide prisoners with room and board. The matter became an issue when the former wife of a detainee, who had murdered three prostitutes, objected to him receiving such state benefits while incarcerated. The woman discovered that politicians appreciated her complaint and took up her cause. The idea of having prisoners pay for their keep while incarcerated is not permitted by international treaties of which the Netherlands is a signatory.